Clyburn: Sanford move all about 2012

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) minced no words in responding today to South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s decision to reject stimulus funds for state projects.

“This is just political posturing aimed toward the next national election,” Clyburn told reporters on a conference call today. “If he were looking out for the state he would be looking out for the people of the state.”

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“He’s got a political agenda that runs contrary to the needs of his constituents,” said Clyburn, noting the state’s more than 10 percent unemployment rate.

On Tuesday Sanford announced that he would seek a waiver to use the $700 million in federal cash to pay down South Carolina’s debt, instead of investing it in infrastructure projects. Sanford — a potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate — is winning praise from conservative groups around the country for refusing to spend his state's stimulus money on projects.

Clyburn said Sanford can't just use the money for debt service – and he argued that the state legislature should pass a resolution outlining that the money could pay for improving the state’s ailing public schools and water supply.

in response to Clyburn's comments, Sanford Communications Director Joel Sawyer said, "Representative Clyburn has made clear during his time in Congress that he's never met a spending increase he didn't like. The governor's proposal to use these funds for debt repayment is the only responsible way to proceed in the face of a stimulus bill that even the Congressional Budget Office has said will prove to be a drag on the economy in the long run."